Image source: Dead Amble on Facebook – live music at Strand Smokehouse in Astoria

Another great element besides the food and service at an establishment, is the music. Sometimes the music playing in the background can really elevate an experience (or cause it to come tumbling down if the music is bad). So where do you like to go where they have great music? And do you prefer it live or recorded? Leave us a comment here or via twitter at @queensnycity.

The LIC Post reports that The Who – yes, the famous British rock band – has given LIC bar (GMAP) new sound system equipment, and we can’t deny that this is very, very cool. During Hurricane Sandy, LIC Bar’s basement – where they stored the original sound system equipment – flooded with seven feet of water, ruining everything.

Hello, 2012 holiday season! One of the fun things to do during the holidays is go to the various holiday markets around the city. Most people are familiar with the markets in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and there are a number of markets during the season in Queens. Here is our roundup – we will update this list as new markets come to light.

This is going to be a wonderful event, with local artists who create unique hand-made crafts and edible items – mainly for kids, live music, special holiday photo booth, story time, raffles, and more! There will be Grand Raffle: every artist and crafter is donating an item, so you can raffle it off. The entire raffle ticket sales will be given to Queens Library Foundation.

There will be live music by Mick McFadden (noon), Art House Astoria Carolers (1:15pm), and Margo Gezairlian Grib (2:45pm), as well as special story time at 2:15pm, and a grand raffle at 4pm.

The Queens Kickshaw was spared from Hurricane Sandy’s devastating effects and actually benefited greatly from increased patronage. To give back some of the luck and good will, the Astoria eatery will hold a Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser. All profits from 7 am this morning until 1am tomorrow will be donated to the American Red Cross. Whether you love coffee, cheese, beer, cider or kombucha (generously donated by Astoria’s very own Beyond Kombucha), come by to show your support for fellow New Yorkers in need.